DECATUR — A Hiwasse youth allegedly drove his car off a bridge on Arkansas Highway 59 near Decatur Friday night and was discovered to have a bullet wound in his chest.

Decatur Police responded to a report of a man wandering down the road acting intoxicated and found Dylan Combs, 18, of Hiwasse, walking along the highway near the Simmons Feed Plant, police reports state.

Decatur police officer Chuck Eggebrecht noticed that Combs was not only intoxicated but was having trouble breathing and communicating, according to the report. Eggebrecht had Combs sit down in his patrolvehicle and discovered a gunshot wound in Combs’ chest, the report states.

Combs was transported by ambulance to Ozarks Community Hospital in Gravette and then by air ambulance to Mercy Hospital in Rogers.

After an extensive search of the area, Gravette and Decatur police found Combs’ car in the creek under the bridge just north of Crystal Lake Road, the report states. According to the report, it appears the vehicle was traveling northbound when it drifted onto the shoulder and straddled the guard rail before running down a steep hill, crossing the creek and colliding with the concrete base of the bridge.

Ammunition for a 22 caliber rifle was found in Combs’ vest pocket. A loaded Ruger rifle was found in the car with the butt of the weapon on the floor board and the muzzle pointed at the driver’s seat with the safety off and ready to fire, the report states.

Combs told police he was alone in his vehicle. He denied shooting himself and said the only thing he remembered was a loud bang and then walking down the road. Combs also told police that he had been drinking and arguing with his estranged wife through text messages, the report states.

The report suggests the possibility that the gun could have discharged from the impact of the accident. Based on phone records, the report also alleges that Combs may have been sending a text message at the time his vehicle ran off the road.

Whether or not the shooting was accidental was not yet determined and remains under investigation, according to Police Chief Terry Luker.

News, Pages 1 on 02/16/2011